Hey for those that didnt know, I was briefly in TN and GA this past weekend for a quick trip before school started. I had such a blast it was great! I wish I could have hung out with everyone but there was just not enough time! Fourtunately, in 4 months that won't be a problem because I'm moving to Chattanooga! Its been an interesting journey making the decision but I think its definitely where the Lord is leading me to go. I'm currently working on getting my transcripts in order so I can finish up at UTC in a couple of semesters. I'll keep ya'll updated.

So on the plane ride home last night I read this verse in my Bible while I was killing time. Its from Ecc 9:7 "Go,eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do." As a disclaimer I should point out that I'm not into taking one verse and building an entire world view out of it, but this verse has been resonating with me in light of several convos I have with TP and others over the last few weeks. The main thing I keep going back to is what it looks like to live well?

Am I doing it?

Do I find joy in the meanial and the everyday things I do?

Am I living life with others in a way that brings them joy?

Another thing that I've been thinking about is that God approves of what we do! And the cool thing is its not necessarially because of what we do but because of what he has done for us through His son Jesus Christ. When we are living out our relationship with Christ we will want to live life in holiness, even through our struggle with sin. It reminds me a lot of Augustine's quote "Love God and do as you please." So many times we struggle with this idea that we can fall out of God's Will based on something we do. I just don't think thats biblical. If we are living out our relationship with Christ then he is pleased by the decisions we make,( the exception of course being when we sin) So that gives us SO much freedom to live life, being joyful all along the way. How awesome is that?

So in between doing laundry and school stuff I thought I'd post a little sumthin, sumthin. Ususally when I do the whole blog thing, I have a set topic or idea in mind and have an idea of what I'm going to say, but today I think I'm just going to wing it.God has really been challenging me on a lot of things recently. Specifically, on what santification, community and on His Character as it relates to those two things.

In regards to the first thing, it seems so many of us want to have an "experience" with Jesus Christ. Usually this consists of a going to a conference, a retreat, or something and getting a "spiritual high" at the end. Then a couple of weeks later after we've processed the experience, we look foward to the next time we'll experience something similar. I think theres also this frustration for some of us when we experience God in a powerful way like that and then go back to our everyday lives wondering why we don't have those experiences everyday.

While those experience are incredible important to our growth as Christians, I'm finding that so much of the Christian life is the daily process of Sanctification in our lives. In 1 Peter 1:1-2 Peter talks about how the process is created by the Holy Spirit producing obedience in the hearts of those who believe in Jesus Christ. I think the flipside of that, is that God wants to have a daily relationship with us as well. He doesn't wait for us to come to Him on the mountaintop, but wants to be with us throughout our everyday experiences! How amazing is that?!

I think the process also relates to how we connect in community. So many of us think that as long as its just me and Jesus that everything else doesn't really matter, but that is just not the case. The way we connect with one another greatly effects the way we relate to God and vice versa. Think about what Jesus said are the two greatest commandments. First we should love God, but secondly we must also love one another. I think without being in some kind of community you can't properly do either one of those. Now just to be clear, I'm not saying go to a megachurch and get to know everyone there. I would actually argue that community starts with at least two people and grows from there.

I started going through Acts yesterday and one of the first things you see is what authentic community looks like. Look at 2:42 "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." When I read this I see 4 things that define what authentic community looks like: 1) The teaching/preaching of God's Word, 2) Fellowship 3) Hospitality 4) Prayer. All four of these things are so important especially in our culture today. If we don't do this are we not in community? I'm honestly not sure. I definitely lean towards no though.

Anyways seeing that this is post is becoming a little long winded I might post a part 2 later on this week. Here are a couple of final thoughts:

1. Are you living for a spirtual high or are you working through the daily process of sanctification in your own life?

2.What is the process looking like in your own life?

3. Are you comfortable just having a relationship with Jesus Christ or are you in authentic community with other Christians?

4. If you are in a strong community of believers, in what was are you personally encouraging those around you?